What do my blood test results mean?

No. Reference ranges are population-based, results vary between labs, and many results are transiently affected by illness, exercise, dehydration or medicine. Repeat testing and clinical context are almost always needed.

Different laboratories use different analysers, reagents and reference populations. Always compare your result to the range printed on your own report, not a range you found online.

No — never stop prescribed medicine based on a website. The risk of stopping usually outweighs any small effect on the result. Speak to your GP first.

Yes — upload or WhatsApp your report and a British-trained GP at Aafiyah will review it with you in a paid consultation, in the clinic or by video.

High: 42–47 mmol/mol suggests prediabetes; ≥48 mmol/mol on two occasions is diagnostic of diabetes. Low: Unusually low HbA1c may reflect anaemia, recent blood loss or a haemoglobinopathy. Non-disease reasons: Iron deficiency, recent transfusion, chronic kidney disease and pregnancy all shift HbA1c. Preparation for the HbA1c test is on our preparation guide.

High: 5.6–6.9 mmol/L = impaired fasting glucose; ≥7.0 mmol/L on two occasions = diabetes. Low: <3.9 mmol/L is hypoglycaemia — check for medication effect, alcohol or adrenal cause. Non-disease reasons: Acute stress, steroids, insufficient fasting and infection all raise fasting glucose transiently. Preparation for the Fasting glucose test is on our preparation guide.

High: Raised LDL increases long-term cardiovascular risk but is interpreted alongside ApoB, Lp(a), blood pressure, HbA1c, family history and age. Low: Very low LDL may reflect malnutrition, hyperthyroidism or chronic disease. Non-disease reasons: Acute illness lowers cholesterol for weeks; pregnancy raises it physiologically. Preparation for the Total cholesterol / LDL test is on our preparation guide.

High: >1.7 mmol/L is raised; >5 mmol/L raises pancreatitis risk and needs prompt review. Low: Very low triglycerides are usually benign. Non-disease reasons: Non-fasting samples, alcohol, and a high-carbohydrate meal all raise triglycerides. Preparation for the Triglycerides test is on our preparation guide.

High: Persistently raised ALT and GGT suggest fatty liver, alcohol-related injury, medicine effect or viral hepatitis and warrant an ultrasound plus FIB-4 score. Low: Low values are not clinically significant. Non-disease reasons: A hard workout in the 48 hours before the test can raise ALT and AST without any liver disease. Preparation for the ALT / GGT (liver) test is on our preparation guide.

High: Raised creatinine with a low eGFR suggests reduced kidney filtration — but must be confirmed and paired with urine ACR before diagnosing chronic kidney disease. Low: Low creatinine usually reflects low muscle mass and is not a problem. Non-disease reasons: Dehydration, high protein meals, creatine supplements and intense exercise all raise creatinine transiently. Preparation for the Creatinine / eGFR test is on our preparation guide.

High: Raised TSH with low free T4 = primary hypothyroidism. Raised TSH with normal T4 = subclinical hypothyroidism — treatment is individualised. Low: Suppressed TSH with high T4/T3 = hyperthyroidism; a low TSH with normal T4 may be subclinical or medicine-related. Non-disease reasons: Biotin supplements, acute illness (sick euthyroid), pregnancy and time of day all shift TSH. Preparation for the TSH test is on our preparation guide.

High: High ferritin can reflect iron overload but is also an acute-phase reactant — it rises with any infection, obesity, alcohol or fatty liver. Low: Ferritin <30 µg/L (some labs <15) indicates iron deficiency, often before the haemoglobin drops. Non-disease reasons: Recent infection or heavy training can double ferritin for several weeks without any iron overload. Preparation for the Ferritin test is on our preparation guide.

High: Very high vitamin D (usually from over-supplementation) can cause hypercalcaemia. Stop the supplement and recheck. Low: <30 nmol/L = deficient; 30–50 = insufficient. Extremely common in Dubai despite the sun. Non-disease reasons: Season, sun exposure, skin pigmentation and body mass index all affect vitamin D. Preparation for the Vitamin D (25-OH) test is on our preparation guide.

High: CRP >10 mg/L suggests active infection or inflammation; hs-CRP 1–3 mg/L is a low-grade cardiovascular risk marker. Low: Low CRP is reassuring. Non-disease reasons: Any recent viral illness, dental infection or vigorous exercise raises CRP for 1–2 weeks. Preparation for the CRP / hs-CRP test is on our preparation guide.

High: Raised PSA is not a cancer diagnosis — benign prostate enlargement, prostatitis, recent ejaculation, cycling and a recent digital rectal exam all raise PSA. Low: Low PSA is normal. Non-disease reasons: Avoid ejaculation, vigorous cycling and rectal examination for 48 hours before testing. Preparation for the PSA test is on our preparation guide.

High: High testosterone in men is unusual — investigate exogenous testosterone use or a testicular/adrenal cause. Low: A single low reading is not enough — repeat morning testosterone (07:00–10:00) with SHBG, LH and prolactin before diagnosing hypogonadism. Non-disease reasons: Poor sleep, acute illness, obesity, opioids and time of day all lower testosterone. Preparation for the Testosterone test is on our preparation guide.

High: Raised platelets or white cells may reflect infection or inflammation; raised haemoglobin can reflect dehydration or smoking. Low: Low haemoglobin, low white cells or low platelets warrant a blood film, iron studies, B12, folate and often a repeat. Non-disease reasons: Dehydration concentrates the blood; a recent infection changes white cell counts for 1–2 weeks. Preparation for the Full blood count test is on our preparation guide.